My big problem with legalized prostitution is the major health maintenance costs. The testing and medical help for sexually-transmitted diseases (STD’s) are going to be exorbitant, just as the legal brothel operators in Nevada have found out.
The law of unintended consequences will make them rue the day they passed this.
You already mentioned the increased cost of VD treatment.
The way this law is worded, it creates a huge loophole for all kinds of activity. It doesn’t legalize prostitiution, it makes it illegal for the police to pursue a crime that involves prostitiution. You know the way the courts are in SF that they will give it the most inclusive interpretation possible.
Public sex (of any kind)? If it is for money the police’s hands are tied.
Public nudity? I’m a prostitute advertising.
Loitering? I’m a prostitute looking for work.
Accosting people on the street? I’m a prostitute looking for work.
What makes them think this will be confined to the “adult” sections of town. The richer customers will be staying in the better hotels, they’ll go where the money is.
How will this affect SF’s tourist/convention business? Businesses that are planning conventions will think twice about holding in a town where female conventioneers might feel sexually harassed by public prostitition (in other words, why not hold the convention in San Diego and avoid the problem all together.)
I really don’t think they realize the pandora’s box they are opening (or maybe they don’t care.)